考研英语写做大攻略之二

第二章 作文出题的题材类型

　　从历年作文试题的出题范围来分析，其题材一般均贴近生活，要求写作的知识范围均为考生所熟悉，容易取材，具有一定可写性。但写作形式均为控制性写作，题材类型分为几类：标题作文、提纲作文、图表作文、规定情景式作文及综合型作文等。例如：

　　一、主题句作文
　　主句作文也称为段首句作文，要求考生在每段所给主题句基础上加以扩展，完成段落，再由段落组成文章。主题句作文是目前较常用的一种出题方式，它不像一般正规文章那样要求具有开头段和结尾段，一般只给出三句主题句，所以属于一种简单的三段式作文。
　　Example 1
　　Title: Dictionary……
　　(1) The dictionary is a living teacher
　　(2) Skills will develop with your constant use of various dictionaries. ……
　　(3) But you should have one thing in mind……

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Dictionary
　　The dictionary is living teacher. Whenever you come across a new word, just consult it and you will get a clear definition. Every student, whether attending school or self-taught, should always have a dictionary at hand. As a study aid, it is convenient, inexpensive and all-knowing.
　　Skills will develop with your constant use of various dictionaries The more you use them, the more familiar you will become with them. Sooner or later, you will be quite skilled in finding the page, scanning the entries and locating the exact meaning of the new words.
　　But you should have one thing mind. As a language student, you should never depend too much on dictionaries. Basic language skill do not come from dictionaries, but from your practice. Learn the language by listening, speaking, reading and writing more, and that is the only way to the mastery of a language.

　　Example2
　　Title: The Computer
　　(1) The computer is a wonderful machine
　　(2) Computers play an important role in our life
　　(3) However, many scientists don’s think that computers will replace us completely.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The Computer
　　The computer is a wonderful machine. It is the most important invention in many years.
　　Today it is used a great deal in various fields. Especially, it is useful in automatic control and data processing. And now it is finding its way into the home.
　　Computers play an important role in our life. They can do most of things people can do They can give you information on buying and selling things. Provide you with suggestion of how to deal with certain illness and how to solve the problems you are faced with. There is no doubt that people can live much easier with the help of the computers.
However, many scientists don’t think that computers will replace us completely. No matter how clever they may become, computers are no more that an extension for human brain.

　　二、提纲式作文
　　提纲式作文为考生提供了题目与一个简单的写作提纲，将考生的写作控制在一定范畴。
　　它要求考生紧扣题目主题，并根据提纲提示的思路和要点展开段落。由于提供的写作提纲一般也为三段，所以考生也可以按照三段式作文将简单的提纲展为主题句，再按照主题句作文的写作方法将文章写成。

　　Example
　　Title: The Telephone
　　Outline: 1. A useful tool
　　2. How to use it
　　3. The improvement of its use

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The Telephone
　　The telephone is an efficient means of communication, which enables people to talk with each other over long distances. If you are overseas and your family is left behind, you may miss them now and then . Besides fishing out their photos, you can dial a long distance call and send your love to them. For business with another company, the telephone is the most convenient means for you to turn to. It saves much of your travel.
　　It is easy to learn how to use a telephone. First, take the receiver off the hook. Then listen for the dial tone . You can begin to dial the number you want when you hear a long steady signal. If you hear a rapid series of very short tones after dialing, the phone is “busy”. Each town has special emergency numbers for the fire department and police station, which are often listed in the front of the telephone directory.
　　People have mdae much improvement in telephone. For example, they can record telephone talks on tapes, use a radio telephone on a moving car or see the speaker by using the vision telephone.

　　三、图表式作文
　　图表式作文可综合提供题目、数据、图像、提纲，形式多样，是一种控制性和应用性更强的作文的出题方式，从写作类型来看，基本上属于说明文。考生要围绕题目并将有关信息转化为文字形式，这要求考生具有一定数据分析和材料归纳的能力，同时运用一定的写作方法。考研试题一般以三段式写作方法来组织文章，第一段总结归纳信息反映的总的情况，点出主题思想，第二段回答第一段所得出的问题，对数字、数据等信息作出有条理的分析比较，第三段作出总结或给以简单评论。
　　Example1
　　Directions: Write a composition no Changes in People’s Diet. Study the following table carefully and your composition must be based on the information giver in the table. Write three paragraphs to:
　　(1) State the changes in people’s diet in the past five years;
　　(2) Give possible reasons for the changes;
　　(3) Draw your own conclusions.
　　You should quote as few figures as possible.


　　　　　　　　　　　　Changes in People’s Diet
　　Diet is very important in people’s life . From 1987 to 1990. people’s diet changed a lot . Grain was no longer regarded as the main food. And as the proportion of fruit and vegetables declined, the consumption of milk and meat increased.
　　What caused these changes? There are two reasons. One is that with the development of science, people began to realize the importance of maintaining a balanced diet. The other is that people had more money to spend and could afford more expensive food. They tried to change their low-priced diet into a more varied one. They were eager to build up a strong body by improving their living standards.
　　With the development of our economy and the improvement of our food supply, further changes will take place in people’s diet.

　　Example2
　　Directions: Write a composition based on the charts of the average family expenses in the United Stated. The opening sentence is given and you are required to develop it into a full composition.
The opening sentence: The average family income in the United States increased from 12,000 dollars per year in 1980 to 16,000 dollars in 1985.


　　　　　　　　　　　The Average Family Expenses
　　The average family income in the United States has increased from 12,000 dollars per year in 1980 to 16,000 dollars in 1985. In the meantime, the structure of the average family expenses has changed, too. These graphs show the change clearly.
　　The biggest part of the average family expenses was housing. In 1980, the average family spent 25 percent of its income on housing. In 1985, expenses on housing rose to 32 percent. Food and drink were the second biggest part of the average family expenses .In 1980, about 18% of the average income was spent on this item. In 1985, the figure grew to 22%. As a result of such increase in the expenses on housing and food, expenses on other items have been reduced from 57% in 1980 to 46% in 1985.
　　Thus, a conclusion can be drawn that as income increases, people can improve their living step by step. But still the average family has to spend a large part of income to meet the essential needs.

　　四、规定情景式作文
　　情景式作文也是一种控制作文出题方式，它一般不给标题，但规定了具体的情景，考生须从情景信息中找到所写文章的中心思想，在此基础上确定文章的标题和段落结构。在写作过程中，考生应按照情景中规定的范围和条件结合自己的经验和知识来休会、想象和发展段落，但不能脱离情景自由发挥。要注意文章的发展必须合乎逻辑情理，段落之间的衔接要连贯和自然。

　　Example
　　Situation: Students have different ways to spend their summer vacations, and you decide to take your summer vacation with your family in the countryside. Your feeling is quite different with the life in the city, so you think about it deeply.
　　A. Time limit: 40 minutes
　　B. Word limit: no less than 150 words
　　C.